To Serve and Protect

By Snare-chan

Ratings: PG-13
Category(ies): Slight AU (Alternate Universe)
Warning(s): Spoilers for later parts in the game, namely after Zanarkand Dome
Status: Continuation, 3/3
Summary: There is more to the Omega Ruins than anyone could have realized, and it only took several mistakes for Tidus to make this clear.

Notes: When I first wrote this chapter I had long since forgotten half the dialogue about Omega, so I'd written this up first before a friend pointed out that I have the power of the Internet. Originally it's stated that he was a powerful member of the Yevonite church, and after rebelling against it was banished. I went back and changed it accordingly to fit into the plot of the game, so hopefully it seems more plausible even for an AU.

Finally, yes, I used that Pandemona.

Disclaimer: I dun own Final Fantasy X; wish I did like everyone else. They should put FFX in stock, then I'd buy it all!

Where could he start? All of this was deeper than he could simply say in a few select words, but to grant her request he'd have to tell her many things. Tapping his chin in thought, he muttered under his breath. Did he even have time for this?

"It's…hard to explain," he admitted, looking at her as earnestly as possible. "We were traveling here when we were ambushed. Auron…he…took a really bad hit for me. But it's more than that."

During his speech, the fayth had knelt down on her knees and clasped her palms together in her lap, listening intently. Her scrutinizing left him feeling tense and surprised. An aeon had never intentionally talked or listened to him more than necessary, not in any of their meetings. The only one that came close was Bahamut.

"I…understand."

"You do?"

The other nodded sternly, her face resorting back to the previous frown it had displayed. She looked so deadly serious that he had no doubt in his mind that maybe she did know what he was talking about, even when he wasn't sure himself about what exactly that was. Closing her eyes, she tilted back her head, as if feeling a great pain engulf her.

/When he was young and foolish…when we were young and foolish, we were the same. Dream, do you know the story of Omega/ Her voice distinctly went back to her native language, and at his shake of the head she continued. /Yes…I suppose you would not, he is, after all, the only Al Bhed Summoner Spira has ever known./

"Wait…Omega was a what? I thought he was a Yevon-follower and dismissed from the church or something?"

/Yes…he was a deep follower of Yevon…/

Sitting down as well, Tidus quickly became engrossed with her tale, her soothing voice carrying the story like none he'd ever heard. With each word she uttered, a clear image filled his head. He could practically smell their surroundings and hear the natural sounds of the environment.

/Omega…had always been a dreamer, someone who only saw good in others and did what he could to help those in need. Not once did he ever think of himself above anyone else, and so his brothers and sisters loved him dearly. He was a cherished person, and highly thought of./

Here she paused, the memory seeming to pain her.

/Then one day…he had a horrible idea. 'Why stop here? Why not solve the world's suffering?' Many began to shun him as he expressed this need within him, this single thought eating him away till none wished to even look at him. He wanted to become a summoner, a bringer of the Calm, and in doing so, disregarded all our own people's teachings.

But not I…I did not ignore him. I had wished to aid him in his journey in hopes of talking him out of it. With me there by his side, he would see reason and turn back before it was too late. As time went by, the Al Bhed and Yevon followers hated him. No one would listen; he could stay nowhere but the streets and sneak into the temples at night. Even the fayths seemed to disregard him, only supplying their strength at the last minute. None of Spira appreciated him like I do./

It was horrible to hear. Here, in this time and during his own story, nothing seemed to be able to compare to this. He thought he had it bad, when at least in his Zanarkand people adored him and he had Yuna and her group. Even without those things, there was still Auron. But this Omega guy…he was truly alone, save for this one strong woman.

/Day after day I saw his determination, his strength, and came to realize that all my complaints and pleas would never reach him. Eventually, for all our efforts, we were banished here, to haunt the stone halls of these ruins for tainting the church./ Reaching up a pale hand, she demonstrated her current state. /Perhaps…his crazy thoughts infected me too. I thought that if I could not stop him, then I wished to be with him till the very end. I would help him in any way I could, so I…became this. I became the one and only Pandemona, and he made me this shrine. But I have not been summoned in so long…/

"Huh…" This was all he could utter at the moment, his mind still racing with what he'd just heard. He had heard rumors about this guy from his companions, about how he had been tossed in here and died unsent. Actually, hearing his life story from the one person who loved him the most made it hard whether he should tell her what Auron had told him about Omega. That's when all his musings came to a halt. Auron; he was still hurting!

"Panda-lady, I…"

/This Auron…is he your lover too/

Whatever he had been about to say got stuck in the roof of his mouth at that startling question, his head bobbing quickly to clear it, "My…er...isn't that kind of a personal question?"

/You are deeply troubled for him, enough to…do whatever is necessary for him./

"Well of course I am; he's…been there for me a lot of times. Ok, all the time." Speaking like this wasn't easy for him, especially towards a stranger. But she had been kind enough to be honest to him, as far as to tell him her story, and whether this truthfulness was contagious or not, he returned the favor.

"It's all my fault he's hurt. If I'd only listened to him when he said we should keep moving…or tried harder…then maybe he wouldn't have had to protect me like he did. That's why I need to get something to heal him. I'd do this for any one of my friends," he added quickly, making it a point to make that last part loud and clear.

/He would not want you to despair./

"I know that! That doesn't change the fact that he's hurt and we're out of provisions. Is there anything you can do?"

Bowing her head, she returned to a floating position over the ground, the tips of her loafers suspended only by an inch.

/Yes…I believe I can, but I must ask you something in return./

"Anything; just name it!"

/I sense you know what has happened to my beloved Omega. Please…do what you must to finally bring him true peace. I could not bring him such fortune, but perhaps you can./

He thought it over for merely a second. There had been tales spoken of Omega still terrorizing this underworld and having Yuna send him would be just the thing she would want to do. He had been a summoner as well, and rightly deserved to be sent for his efforts, no matter his nationality. With a curt nod, he jumped back to his feet.

"You've got yourself a deal."

/Then please, take these. Hopefully you will gain more use out of them than we have./

With that said, the already cracked glass containing her body completely broke apart, showering him with the light the dancing bits created as they flew through the air. For the second time that day he was blinded, and this time he never saw afterwards.

When Tidus awoke, he thought he was blind. All he could see was black on all sides, and shifting positions helped nothing. Frantically, he felt the floor beneath him and then a wall. Using it to guide him, he reached a corridor lit with lights. Heart still pounding at the scare and the realization that he could still see, he slumped against the support, brushing loose strands of his hair out of his eyes. He was about to say, what use had she intended if she had rid him of his sight?

That's when the memories of Pandemona returned to him, of her gentle voice relaying the tale of Omega and of their promise. The blonde searched for any chests by his feet but saw none, so he desperately pulled out his pockets to find twelve Al Bhed potions, one X-potion, three Ethers and several Antidotes. Face brightening, he whooped for joy, not caring for all the world if he attracted every fiend in the area to this one spot. He had gotten what he'd sought for and, using the makeshift map they had been using to get around and mark the territory, he started back towards 'camp'.

Upon his arrival, Rikku's shrill cry of his return had everyone looking at him and greeting him instantly. Soon he was in a throng of questioning and answering, and even as tired as he was, he didn't really mind.

"We were so worried for you, Tidus. Kimahri told us of you going off on your own," Yuna gushed breathlessly, hovering closest to him.

"How very foolish; we thought you were dead," Lulu spoke up next, her tone that of a scolding mother.

"Ya, where'd you go, man? You were gone for hours!"

Calmly, he waited for everyone to give him some air, just basking in the sensation of having all his close friends there for him. For a fleeting moment he wondered if Summoner Omega experienced this sort of feeling too, and if he had, was it what Tidus felt now?

"Yeah…sorry about leaving you guys in the dark, but I went searching for some things. You won't believe what I found either, but I can explain all that later. Where's Auron so I can give him these Potions?"

"Right here."

At the sound of Auron's collected and flat voice, Tidus all but dropped the glass vials in his gloved hands. Standing perfectly on his own, the older man had his arm slung into his robe, the appendage re-bandaged and looking far less troublesome than when he'd left.

"Auron! You're ok?"

"Of course." His voice was so matter-of-fact that Tidus felt sorry over ever doubting his capability to take a hit. The Blitzball player managed to keep from blushing to the tips of his hair by putting the things away.

"And now that everyone is here in one piece, we can leave."

This time when everyone headed out there were absolutely no complaints, especially from Rikku. Tidus was about to join them until he noticed Auron hanging back, knowing what that meant for him. His stomach was not filled with the normal dread he felt whenever he was about to get chewed out by the guardian. He would gladly sit through a million lectures so long as that meant Auron was around to give them.

"What did you think you were doing?" the man demanded immediately.

"I was worried about you!" Tidus defended. "I couldn't just sit around and do nothing when you were so hurt."

"Why?"

The crisp, simple question left him reeling. Why? It was such a stupid and obvious answer!

"Because if something wasn't done you would have die…oh."

Auron snorted, stepping past him to catch up with the others. "Exactly. Think more next time."

"But I did think it out…"

"Save it. You can tell me all about it later on the airship."

"The airship…wait a minute!" Jogging a little so he was walking alongside the other, he looked up at him curiously, not sure he'd heard right. They were going back to the airship already? But after all he'd been through, it didn't feel like enough, though earlier he had been demanding a rest stop. "We can't leave yet."

"Why not?"

"I…uh…got some Potions and stuff, so we don't have to go anywhere. We can keep going and er…fight…things." He smiled meekly as the other completely stopped in his tracks to observe him better. "What, are you complaining?"

"Not me…what are you up to?"

Waving off his suspicion, Tidus laughed. "I'm not up to anything, honest!"

"Hmph…"

With that, he was moving up towards the front, leaving Tidus to come along if he wished. Of course he did and he didn't hesitate to pick up his pace, his footsteps gaining an extra bounce as their group trailed not towards the first save sphere but deeper into the cavernous ruins. He was glad, because if Auron had taught him anything, it was how to keep a promise.

-Fin-

A/N: And off they go to defeat the Omega Weapon, yay!